1Two men charged with assaulting Police officer Perry Griffen in Kawhia ten days ago have appeared in the Te Awamutu District Court today. The pair were a father and son, 49 year old Jack Maikuku and his son Jackie. Dramatic new footage of the attack has been released.

2British media are reporting that the Elliot Turner, the man convicted of killing New Zealand teenager Emily Longley, has been assaulted in prison.

3The fate of All Black Zac Guildford's future rugby career in New Zealand is hanging in the balance as he faces a misconduct hearing later this week for his latest off-field misdemeanor.

4Helicopter with monsoon buckets have taken to the air near Taupo in an effort to save one of New Zealand's oldest hotels from a large scrub fire.

5A massive rock and ice fall thundered down Aoraki Mount Cook this afternoon, stopping just above a hut containing fifteen climbers.

6The mother of an eleven year old boy missing at sea says her son was not supposed to be aboard the stricken boat which capsized in the Hauraki Gulf on Thursday.

7The first group of Bethlehem College students has returned from Kenya after last week's van crash tragedy.

8The Wellington port worker killed at CenntrePort in a workplace accident yesterday has been named as 47 year old Mark Samoa.

9Nelson MP Nick Smith will be welcomed back into Cabinet tomorrow in a New Year reshuffle. Former Environment Minister Smith stood down from his ministerial portfolio in 2012 following a lack of judgement over a conflict of interest involving Accident Compensation Corporation claimant Bronwyn Pullar, who received hundreds of confidential ACC client files by mistake.

10Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has concocted a new plan for the city's ruined cathedral - making the ruins safe and then enclosing the remains in a massive glass case, allowing worshippers and tourists back inside.

11The first British hostages who escaped or were rescued from their hostages in Algeria have begun talking about their ordeal.

12A 15 year old has been arrested in the United States after shooting and killing both his parents and three siblings.

13United States President Barack Obama has been sworn in for another four years at a low-key ceremony at the White House. His public inauguration will be held tomorrow.

14Kim Dotcom's new Mega website has struggled to keep up with demand on its first day.

15Support is building for a party led by right-wing Jewish businessman Naftali Bennett ahead of this weekend's Israeli elections.

16Prices for Mercury Energy's residential customers in Auckland will fall an average of $2.50 a month from April, following a reduction in lines company charges forced on the industry by the Commerce Commission.

17The Department of Conservation has released two giant spotted kiwi into the Nina Valley in the Lewis Pass - an area that was once riddled with pests.

18A red panda has been born at Auckland Zoo for the first time in a decade.